Image processing method and device using photo assistant tool including rotator

• US 7,548,273 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2004
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wada, Shinya, Suzuki, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): Ye; Lin
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHIPKEY, JASON T
• Application Number:
  US10/943,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/46, 348/47, 348/373, 348/50, 348/218.1, 348/39, 396/324, 396/325, 396/329
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence

Abstract

A photographic method of a stereoscopic image or an omnidirectional image has hidden potential of creating innovative video systems and video services that have never existed before. A photo assistant tool includes: a rotator formed by a ring-shaped circular member; a first imaging section and a second imaging section provided on an upper face of the rotator; and a support base. The first imaging section and the second imaging section take a pair of parallax images. At the same time, by continuous shots taken by the first imaging section and the second imaging section while the rotator is being rotated about a center as a center of rotation, omnidirectional parallax images are obtained. Furthermore, by continuous shots taken by the first imaging section and the second imaging section while the rotator is being continuously rotated, a motion picture made up of omnidirectional parallax images as frames is taken.

Claims

1. An image processing method comprising:

allowing an imaging section provided for a predetermined rotatable member having a rotating face in a substantially horizontal direction to continuously shoot in photographic directions approximately parallel to the rotating surface while the member is rotating, and also allowing the imaging section to continuously shoot while rotating about a position of the imaging section independently of the rotation of the member so that the photographic direction of the imaging section can be turned in a direction over the almost entire surroundings; and

reading the continuously shot images taken during the rotation of the imaging section as images of the almost entire surroundings, and reading the continuously shot images taken during the rotation of the member as parallax images.

2. The image processing method according to claim 1, further comprising outputting the images for the almost entire surroundings on an omnidirectional screen having a curved shape or a cylindrical inner face.

3. An image processing method comprising:

allowing an imaging section provided for a predetermined rotatable member having a rotating face in a substantially horizontal direction to continuously shoot in photographic directions approximately parallel to the rotating surface while the member is repeatedly rotating, so as to take a motion picture, and also allowing the imaging section to continuously shoot to take a motion picture while rotating about a position of the imaging section independently of the rotation of the member so that the photographic direction of the imaging section can be turned in a direction over the almost entire surroundings; and

reading the continuously shot images forming the motion picture taken during the rotation of the imaging section as images of the almost entire surroundings, and reading the continuously shot images forming the motion picture taken during the rotation of the member as parallax images.

4. The image processing method according to claim 3, further comprising outputting the images for the almost entire surroundings on an omnidirectional screen having a curved shape or a cylindrical inner face.

5. An image processing method comprising:

performing continuous shooting in photographic directions opposite to each other and approximately parallel to a substantially horizontal rotating face of a predetermined rotatable member while the member is rotating, the shooting being done by a plurality of imaging sections provided on the rotating face of the rotatable member such that at least one of the imaging sections is provided proximate to another imaging section; and

reading continuously shot images taken during the rotation of the member, wherein

the shooting includes acquiring each of a plurality of images obtained by a single shot as an image in the direction in which the image is taken, and repeating the acquisition at different photographic points by continuously shooting while the member is rotating, and

the reading includes storing a combination of images acquired in the same direction at different photographic points as parallax images in that direction and ultimately storing the continuously shot images as parallax images for the almost entire surroundings by repeating the storage for different directions.

6. An image processing method comprising:

performing continuous shooting in photographic directions opposite to each other and approximately parallel to a substantially horizontal rotating face of a predetermined rotatable member while the member is rotating, so as to take a motion picture, the shooting being done by a plurality of imaging sections provided on the rotating face of the rotatable member such that at least one of the imaging sections is proximate to another imaging section; and

reading the motion picture taken during the rotation of the member, wherein

the shooting includes acquiring each of a plurality of images forming the motion picture and obtained by a single shot as an image in the direction in which the image is taken, and repeating the acquisition at different photographic points by continuously shooting while the member is rotating, and

the reading includes storing a combination of images acquired in the same direction at different photographic points as parallax images in that direction and ultimately storing the motion picture as parallax images for the almost entire surroundings by repeating the storage for different directions.

7. An image processing device comprising:

an image input section which reads a plurality of images continuously shot in photographic directions opposite to each other and approximately parallel to a substantially horizontal rotating face of a predetermined rotatable member while the member is rotating, the shooting being done by plurality of imaging sections provided on the rotating face of the rotatable member such that at least one of the imaging sections is provided proximate to another imaging section;

an image retaining section which stores the plurality of images in correlation with their photographic timing; and

an output processing section which outputs the plurality of stored images, wherein

the image input section reads each of two or more images obtained by a single shot by the plurality of imaging sections as an image in the direction in which the image is taken, and repeats the reading at different photographic points by continuously shooting while the member is rotating;

the image retaining section stores a combination of images in the same direction thus read at different photographic points as parallax images in that direction and ultimately storing the plurality of images as parallax images for the almost entire surroundings by repeating the storage for different directions; and

the output processing section outputs the parallax images for the almost entire surroundings thus stored.

8. An image processing device comprising:

an image input section which reads a motion picture obtained by continuous shooting in photographic directions opposite to each other and approximately parallel to a substantially horizontal rotating face of a predetermined rotatable member while the member is rotating, the shooting being done by a plurality of imaging sections provided on the rotating face of the rotatable member such that at least one of the imaging sections is provided proximate to another imaging section;

an image retaining section which stores a plurality of images making up the motion image in correlation with their photographing timing; and

an output processing section which outputs the plurality of stored images, wherein

the image input section reads each of two or more images obtained by a single shot by the plurality of imaging sections and forming the motion picture as an image in the direction in which the image is taken, and repeats the reading at different photographic points by continuously shooting while the member is rotating;

the image retaining section stores a combination of images in the same direction thus read at different photographic points as parallax images in that direction and ultimately storing the plurality of images as parallax images for the almost entire surroundings by repeating the storage for different directions; and

the output processing section outputs the parallax images for the almost entire surroundings thus stored.